Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-02
TOPOLOBAMPO.
The Colony Scheme q fraud OF
Great Mag

SAN FRANCisco, February Among
the passengers of the steamer Newbern,
which arrived yesterday from Mexican
parts, were a number of colonists from
the Topolobampo Cooperative Colony
which has been located in the State of
Siualoa, Mexico. The arrivals agree in
pronsuncing The scheme one Of the great.
est frauds ever devised. They express
the greatest dissatisfaction with their
experience and congratulate themselves
that they have been able to get aw;.y
from the place. Fiorid descriptions Of
the place which have been widely pub.
lished in both Europe and America are
denounced as false. The arrivals state
the site chosen by the criginatcrs Of the
scheme consists of nothing but rock and
sand and the vegetable growth Is en-
tirely of tbs cactus family. There Is no
arabic Ian of any extent within thirty
five miles OF the city. The
locality is so slightly elevated
above the sea level. that at very high
tide it is largely covered with water,
and at low tide 10000 acres of mud are
exposed, sending up cloud OF malari-
ous eKhalations that is any ything but con-
dncive to health. The colonists have
found it an impossibility to raise a crop
of any kind, There has been no means
presented for the construction OF build
ings aud the colonists sre living in tents
The bay upon which the place is located
and which was urged by the projectors
OF thu colony as one of the finest harbors
in the world. will require the expendi-
ture Of millions, for dredging, before it
wiz be of any use whatever. For half
q mile seaward the wat er is only knee
deep. The plantations near the Place,
about which SO much has been said, are
but mythical. The arrivals say the To-
polobampo colony will be short lived.
A DIFFERENT STORY.
The accounts of this settlement given
by o. A. Cain. f. C. Richards aud A G.
Townsend, who also arrived in the New
bern, describe the advantages of the
colony as being all that was claimed
They state regarding the land in the vi
cinity of the colony that for about a
mile back of the present wharf extend
rocky hills from 400 to 500 feet high.
covered with cactus, hgnum Vita and
Brazilian wood. But beyond these hills
extends level plateau over sixty-five
miles long and thirty five miles in width
1t is bordered on the narrow sides by
hills and the Flerte river, on the banks
OF which the colony is situated
The soil of this stretch of
country is said 20 be of
the best agricultural nature ard Is capa-
BE of bearing q crop OF over l5O bushels
Of corn to the acre. Irrigation is all
that is needed, and at present there is
enough irrigated land on the banks of
the Fnerte river to accommodate several
thousand families. The first colonisss
arrived at the place on November y,
lSS6, and already have under cultiva-
ticn over 100 acres of sugarcsne, which
will be harvested next moath. Neces-
sary machinery for converting it into
sugar is also on the ground. Vegetables
OF all kinds have been planted and are
growing as well as they could any place
IN two months. Ths bay is ali thatit was
said to be and it u stated to be as good
a harbor as San Francisco, though not
quite SO large. Forty feet from shore
water is forty feet deep and 100 feet out
soundings gave eight fathoms of water.
Mr.. Carr stated that he went to the col
ony from Seattle, and was called home
by the sickness of his wife. He intended
to return to the colony in the autumn.
Mr.. Townse-d resided in South Haven
Mich; and wen. to Topolobampo in the
interest of several families of that place,
who wished to have definite information
of tine place before they left for it. He
was now On the way to give them a
most favorable report concerning it and
would himself return. Mr.. Richsrds
also signihed his intention OF returning
and stated that the colony surpassed his
greatest expectations.